Sheaffer PFM - Manufacturing Differences between USA and Australia?

[carola]

Hi, there!

 

I have stumbled upon this ad on ebay and was somewhat puzzled:

https://www.ebay.at/itm/203494022557

 

Looked very nice at first glance until my brain said, "Wait... Sheaffer PFM II... Why doesn´t it have a frosted stainless steel cap? Wouldn´t the gold trim mean it was a PFM III? With a 14kt gold nib instead of a PdAg one? But the body is clearly marked PFM II. Is this a frankenpen?"

 

So I asked the seller and this was the answer:

 

Yes the PFM 111 does look like this... at least the USA versions do... but this is an Australian PFM 11...they produced this version.
It is no “frankenpen”

 

As I am not exactly an expert on Sheaffer pens and couldn´t find anything concerning differences in the manufacturing between the USA and Australia on a quick research, I would like to ask someone who has more expertise than me on this topic: You, the Sheaffer gang on FPN. Is this a genuine version of the PFM II?

 

Thanks a lot in advance.

[gmark_wa]

Hi Carola. 
 

You are correct - this is a Frankenpen. Sheaffer’s (Aust.) produced three PFM models: PFM II, PFM III and PFM V. These were the same as the USA-produced pens, so the Australian PFM II has a frosted steel cap. 

[carola]

Thank you very much!

 

Even though the seller was very clear about this not being a frankenpen and even though they seem to sell a lot of pens, I had the feeling this somehow just didn´t add up:

1) the silver nib with the gold trim

2) Sheaffer´s Australia producing different pens than the mother ship

3) nothing to be found about those differences

 

I think it´s pretty insolent to sell a frankenpen and claim it isn´t on enquiry.